What looks to be Helen Thomas’s last interview pre-gaffe has just turned up in, of all places, Vice magazine — a mostly-useless gazette of bored hipster cynicism and debauchery that occasionally publishes interesting photographs.

Amid the low-arc softballs, mutual self-congratulation, and dull liberal platitudes that give the interview its body, Thomas wades into Israel, with predictable results.

Is there somewhat more honesty with the Obama White House than there was with Bush? No.
You’re getting the same amount of dissembling from Robert Gibbs that you got from Tony Snow? [laughs] It isn’t Gibbs’ fault. He’s getting orders. I asked the president last year, “Do you know any country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons?” He said, “I don’t want to speculate.” And I asked Hillary Clinton very recently, “In view of the pressure on Iran concerning nuclear weapons, do you know any country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons?” She said, “We’re for non-proliferation.” She kept talking, but of course she wouldn’t answer the question. So I don’t see much difference in terms of credibility or reversing the decision to ignore certain truths.
I’m wondering if you’re ever accused of being pro-Arab because you’re Lebanese-American? A man asked me yesterday, “Do you think your background has anything to do with your views?” I said, “Absolutely. Of course.” I think I know more about it in terms of human society. But how about the Zionists? Do they have a background that would influence their opinion?
Well, do you think there’s been any real change with the Obama administration regarding American policy toward Israel? No, I really don’t. It’s a facade. The administration wanted to take it as a personal insult when Biden was in the Middle East and Israel announced all this new housing in occupied territory, which is absolutely against international law. You cannot annex occupied land, at least under the rules of Geneva. Haaretz said it was 50,000 housing units. Well, certainly Washington had to react in some way. But I don’t think it’s lasting.
You don’t think Obama’s going to keep any pressure on Netanyahu? I don’t think he can. I’ve seen moments like this before, when there was a real rift with Israel. Like when, under Bush 41, James Baker said, “They have my number, they can call me.” They say that, but then the State Department and American officials always go back. I mean, they have a guy like Dennis Ross at the White House now, who’s always been a part of the Israel lobby. They put him in charge of the whole Muslim world.

Full thing here.